Hi all

I think my old NP free ride 490 is about to kick the bucket. I rigged a sail the back yard just doing the usual gear checking winter ritual and when I de rigged and removed the mast I looked at the section just below where the join is and thought geez I don't think that looked like that before. I did not hear any cracking or splitting sounds and I have actually sailed twice with this mast since I noticed the fibreglass appearing, didn't appear to get any worse, there is no evidence of actual cracks or de laminating in the area, just the strange appearance of the glass fibre, I'm wondering if I can save it by applying epoxy around it or just scrap it, the last thing I need is a broken mast out in the middle of the bay, any advice would be much appreciated.

I would not like to be asking myself that off shore, get another mast

I would happily pay $700 to avoid a 5 hour swim and lost rig.

I suggest buying a new mast and reducing your stress & anxiety.

Looks like stress marks to me, I wouldn't trust it.

It's probably done. Looks like the three outermost layers are delaminating at a place of heavy load. Just adding epoxy won't do anything and wrapping it with prepreg will wear out your sails from the inside without offering much assurance of durability. Some guys have cut below the weak section, and used heat (carefully! or you'll start the ferrule delaminating) to twist the ferrule out. Then, you can build up the ferrule to sit snugly inside the new top of the lower section and re-epoxy, but it'll be really tough to be sure you've got anything like a strong bond all the way around. I'd toss it.

Rig it in the yard again,and stress it as much as you can, over downhaul it.
ask NP, lol.

Ok its unanimous new mast it is, i would much rather sail home than swim!

^^^^
Its a safety issue , the wife must know this .
It can also be used for that new safe carbon boom you've been looking at and possibly replacing those dangerous sails.
Your welcome

Select to expand quote

Imax1 said..
^^^^
Its a safety issue , the wife must know this .
It can also be used for that new safe carbon boom you've been looking at and possibly replacing those dangerous sails.
Your welcome

Sounds like you have experience with these issues Imax,if I word this correctly I could end up with a whole new rig out of this, thanks for the sound advice!